India’s Young Energy – A Story Waiting to Be Written
Once upon a time, not long ago, there was a country where two out of every three people were young – full of dreams, ideas, and restless energy. That country is India. And that time is now.
We are home to 800 million young Indians under the age of 35 – a number so vast, it could reshape not just our future, but the world’s. But here’s the thing: this is not just a statistic. It’s a story. A story of ambition, innovation, courage – and sometimes, of missed chances.
Will we tell a story of how a young nation rose and led the world? Or one where we let potential slip through our fingers?
From Streets to Startups
Take a walk down any college road, and you’ll meet them – youngsters building apps, filming reels, running small businesses, or studying for exams with stars in their eyes. The spirit of Startup India lives here. Since 2016, over 1.59 lakh startups have been born, creating more than 16 lakh direct jobs.
This isn’t just about cities like Bengaluru or Mumbai anymore. Small towns are buzzing too. And here’s a beautiful twist: over 73,000 of these startups have a woman director. That’s not just good for gender balance – it’s the sound of glass ceilings cracking.
And for the youngest dreamers, the government’s Atal Tinkering Labs have reached over 1.1 crore school children across 722 districts. These aren’t just labs; they’re factories of imagination, where future engineers, scientists, and artists are born.
Not Just Jobs – A Purpose
India’s youth aren’t just looking for jobs. Many are searching for meaning.
When the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform launched in 2023, it quietly became a digital revolution. By the end of 2024, more than 1.58 crore youth had signed up to volunteer – cleaning rivers, helping in schools, planting trees, and rebuilding communities.
They didn’t ask for fame. They didn’t go viral. But they changed lives.
This is the heartbeat of a new India: not one that waits for the government to do everything, but one where young citizen step up.
Skills that Matter
Of course, dreams need skills. And in today’s world, knowing how to code can be as important as knowing how to cook. Since 2015, Skill India Mission has trained crores of youth in fields like hospitality, electronics, construction, beauty, and AI.
But the truth is: we need more. We need smarter, faster, more hands-on training that prepares young Indians for jobs that haven’t even been invented yet. With artificial intelligence, robotics, green energy, and the gig economy knocking on our doors, we must move quickly.
And most importantly, we need to ensure dignity for all work – whether it’s a tech startup or a tailoring unit.
Every great story reaches a turning point. For India, that moment is now.
The spark is already lit – our young minds are brimming with ambition, innovation, and dreams. What once felt like distant possibilities are now within reach. Today, with high-speed internet reaching the remotest corners, digital loans available at the click of a button, modern classrooms being built across the country, and a growing ecosystem of mentorship and skill development, India is doing more than hoping – it is enabling.
We are not standing still. From PM e-Vidya to Startup India, from Digital India’s rural broadband push to credit support through Mudra Yojana, the nation is quietly but steadily ensuring that no idea is left behind, and no dream goes unheard.
Of course, many gaps remain – but with intent, innovation, and inclusion guiding policy, those too will be bridged.
If this momentum continues – and all signs suggest it will – India won’t just be the world’s youngest country. It will be its boldest. A place where youth don’t wait for the world to change – they lead it.
And this time, the story will begin with: “There is a country of young dreamers… and they changed everything.”
Writer: Shivam Garg, Media Advisor, National Commission for Women
